Every year, UNESCO International Jazz Day celebrates one of the world’s most influential musical artforms; a genre that has long represented freedom, cultural exchange, creativity and community.
For Adelaide, Australia’s first and only UNESCO City of Music, the occasion is also an opportunity to collaborate with fellow UNESCO Cities of Music across the globe through one of the network’s most distinctive annual initiatives: the International Jazz Day Relay.
Now in its fourth year, the Jazz Day Relay has become a hallmark collaboration of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), bringing together musicians, filmmakers and creative organisations from around the world to reinterpret a single composition through the unique lens of their own city’s musical identity.
In 2026, thirteen UNESCO Cities of Music participated in the project, including Adelaide, Daegu, Ghent, Glasgow, Kansas City, Katowice, Leiria, Llíria, London (Canada), Norrköping, Seattle, Xalapa and Ramallah, with London, Ontario coordinating the final international production.
Collectively, the project has now involved 26 UNESCO Cities of Music and produced more than 54 original performances since it began in 2023.
Music for Peace, Hope and Understanding
Each year, participating cities perform a new work by a composer from within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
This year’s composition, April in Jerusalem, was written by Jerusalem-born violist and composer Samer Rashed, in partnership with UNESCO City of Music Ramallah.
Describing the work, Rashed said:
“This piece is intended to take you on a journey in the alleys of the old city of Jerusalem, and show you the beauty and magic that lie in every detail of this city.”
He also described the spirit of the work as one centred on “positivity, hope, and renewal,” showing “how people can find strength, beauty, and light even when faced with challenges.”
The composition also aligned with this year’s UNESCO theme, Music for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.
Adelaide’s Contribution
For Adelaide’s contribution, Adelaide City of Music once again partnered with Mark Simeon Ferguson, the Elder Conservatorium of Music Jazz Department, Capital Waste Pictures, and Larry’s Camera Hire to create a uniquely South Australian interpretation of April in Jerusalem.
Ferguson crafted a new arrangement that showcased the creativity and musicianship of Adelaide’s jazz community, performed by:
- Lucinda Wearing – Alto Saxophone
- Ben Spitty – Flugelhorn/Trumpet
- Dhiren Karunanithi-Carter – Bass
- Heath Oetjen – Drums
- Mark Simeon Ferguson – Fender Rhodes
Filmed by Liam Somerville and Julian Hatch from Capital Waste Pictures, the performance became Adelaide’s contribution to the global relay, sitting alongside interpretations from fellow UNESCO Cities of Music before being woven into a single international montage produced by the London Music Office in Ontario.
The result is a powerful reminder that while every city has its own musical voice, creativity has the capacity to transcend geography, language and culture.
Jazz Without Borders
Jazz has always been more than a musical genre.
Born from communities seeking expression, identity and freedom, it has become an international language built on listening, collaboration and improvisation. Those same qualities underpin the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, making International Jazz Day a natural opportunity for cities to work together across borders.
For Adelaide, participation in the Jazz Day Relay reflects the city’s longstanding commitment to jazz through its musicians, educators, festivals, venues and audiences.
From the internationally recognised Elder Conservatorium Jazz Department to the Adelaide Jazz Festival, local clubs and year-round performances, jazz continues to play an important role in Adelaide’s cultural identity and international reputation as a UNESCO City of Music.
Bringing the Music to the Community
While the international relay premiered online as part of UNESCO International Jazz Day on 30 April, Adelaide audiences also had the opportunity to experience the city’s arrangement live.
Presented in partnership with the Adelaide Festival Centre, the public performance featured Mark Simeon Ferguson leading an ensemble of Elder Conservatorium Jazz School students and alumni in a live rendition of April in Jerusalembefore an evening celebrating South Australian jazz.
The concert also featured performances by The Danica Elle Quartet, recognised the recipient of the 2026 COMA Emerging Jazz Writer’s Award, Tiffany Gaze, and concluded with a performance by The Exhibits, led by ARIA Award-winning Dr Lyndon Gray and James Muller.
The evening demonstrated the depth of Adelaide’s jazz community while connecting local audiences to a global celebration taking place simultaneously across UNESCO Cities of Music around the world.
Music That Connects Cities
Projects like the International Jazz Day Relay demonstrate the value of Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music designation.
They create opportunities for local musicians to participate in international collaborations, strengthen relationships between creative cities, and showcase South Australia’s musical excellence to audiences around the world.
Adelaide City of Music thanks Mark Simeon Ferguson, the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Capital Waste Pictures, Larry’s Camera Hire, the Adelaide Festival Centre, all participating musicians and creative partners for their continued commitment to this important international collaboration.
As the UNESCO Creative Cities Network continues to grow, so too does the opportunity for Adelaide’s artists to collaborate, connect and contribute to conversations that reach far beyond our own city.
Watch the International Jazz Day Relay video here.